By By Ganiu Bamgbose, PhD
I learnt many soft skills that schools do not teach from my mentor, Professor Adeleke Fakoya, and one of such skills is the will to wait. Many things push you to think you are late and you get into a race which makes your life a waste. Then later you get to realise that there was never even a reason for racing.
I had dedicated my whole life to my PhD thesis between 2016 and 2018 because I wanted to finish in record time and have my convocation on the occasion of the University of Ibadan (UI) at 70 in 2018. Sadly, my abstract was stepped down at the postgraduate school in August 2018 and was to be re-presented in March 2019. My abstract had no issue; I was simply said to be moving at a rate that was too fast. I was devastated. I was sad. Of course he was the one for me to call at such a time as my academic mentor. I called Professor Adeleke Fakoya with a trembling voice, expressing my disappointment at the UI Postgraduate College. Should being diligent with one’s thesis be a problem? Why should my abstract be stepped down for such a flimsy reason? I ranted on the phone although I could not tell him about my disrupted plan to be part of the convocation at the 70th anniversary of the school that year.
All I wanted were some soothing and comforting words, “Gani, it’s okay. Don’t mind them”, and so on. But no! I forgot whom I was dealing with. Professor Fakoya does not do verbal romancing. My situation got worse with his reaction. “Gani, if you defend this year, will you begin to fly in the sky?” “No sir.”, I disappointedly replied. “So go and wait. Good night.” Fuel was added to the fire. “Why did I call him, God?” I was sad for days until some questions began to pop up in my mind: so truly what will happen if I have my convocation in 2018? What changes or goes wrong if I wait till 2019?
Frankly, this supposedly unpleasant experience taught me one of the biggest lessons of life: the will to wait onto God. Will heaven fall if that contract/appointment/promotion is delayed? Will he or she be an angel if you find that partner immediately? Is that child supposed to be another Jesus or Muhammed if you give birth to him or her “now now”? Will you die if you have to resit some courses in school and graduate a year after your mates?
I am not denying that it could be so hurtful when expectations are not met. I have been there. But you must remind yourself that your Maker is never late. Haste has pushed many people to jail. Rush has made many people go to seek from gods what only God can do. Hurry has made many become who the world tells sorry.
Sadly, despite the haste, the rush, the hurry, the worry, nothing happens when it is not its time. Colonel Harland Sanders founded the famous KFC brand at the age of 62. Dorothy Steel was an American film and television actress who was known for starting her career in the movie industry at the age of 88, appearing in Hollywood films including Black Panther, Poms, Jumanji. Dayo Duyile, a renowned Nigerian journalist, fulfilled his lifelong dream of bagging a PhD at 82.
And like the Yoruba saying; if our lives are spared, we would devour animals bigger than the elephant. Patience is a skill; master it.
(c) Ganiu Bamgbose writes from the Department of English, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.
